It took a second or two to come flooding back, the once lemon walls of her bedroom now painted in a rich teal and the furniture different, but then she remembered. How she had survived the party, Liam telling her he was crazy about her, then lying in bed next to him talking about the past, but not the terrible bits. He had pushed her towards happier memories of her friends, ones that she remembered fondly, asking her questions and seeming genuinely interested, and it was only now that she realised he had probably been keeping her purposely distracted so she didn’t dwell on the negatives of being back in Hixton. She had eventually drifted off, the monsters of her past at bay, and had slept fitfully all night.

He was still here in bed beside her, and over the course of the night, she had rolled into his space. She was aware of the heat of his body against her back, of his arm sprawled across her, and his warm shallow breath close to her neck, and certain he was still asleep, she was loath to move, too comfortable and wanting to savour the moment of closeness, aware she was falling for a complicated man. One she couldn’t have.

They would head back to Norfolk after breakfast and she suspected whatever was between them would move back into a professional capacity. At least the ordeal of having to revisit her childhood home would be over – well, until the next time. The relief Hannah felt on that front was immeasurable. She had done it. She had faced her demons and the encounter hadn’t broken her. Knowing that gave her strength and had her considering the farmhouse again.

She had tried to go back the last time they were in Suffolk, but it had been a step too far. Was it worth trying again today before they headed home?

She proposed the idea to Liam as she reversed out of her parents’ driveway, waving goodbye to her mother and Geoff. It was a bright sunny morning and it felt like a wasted opportunity if she didn’t at least try again.

Part of her wondered if he would protest, see it as a waste of time after what had happened before, but he surprised her, agreeing it was a good idea.

As they headed out towards the farm, her confidence started to wane, the urge to ease her foot off the accelerator and turn the car around overwhelming. Anger built inside her.

She was determined to do this.

Liam must have picked up on her vibes, or perhaps had noticed she was clenching the steering wheel a little too tightly, her knuckles white with the pressure. ‘We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to.’

‘I do want to go there,’ Hannah insisted, trying to convince herself as well as him.